Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

thimblerig

noun

/ˈθɪmblərɪɡ/

Definition

Thimblerig refers to a type of deception or trick, especially one involving a game of chance where a person is misled about the location of a small object.

Examples

At the fair, the thimblerig drew a crowd, each person hoping to win money by guessing the right cup.
The thief was caught after attempting to thimblerig a tourist outside the market.

Meaning

The act of thimblerigging often relates to con games or swindling, where the con artist uses sleight of hand to obscure the truth and mislead the participants.